AAP

Miners don't need to be told times are tough but they must adapt quickly or perish, says a new report by consultants Deloitte.

The Australian sharemarket is lower in the wake of a surprise move by the Swiss central bank to strengthen its currency.

Wall Street stocks have fallen for a fifth straight day following disappointing US bank earnings and a surprise move by the Swiss central bank to strengthen its currency.

The oil market has tumbled after OPEC said it produced more oil in December than its limit, despite sharply falling prices, and lowered its global demand outlook for its crude.

The Australian dollar has gone from strength to strength overnight, following upbeat local jobs figures and the Swiss central bank's decision to slash its interest rate.

The price of the precious metal has hit a four-month high and is on track for its biggest percentage weekly gain in nearly a year.

When Janet was contacted by an engineer on a dating website last year, she thought she had found a nice, good-looking man who was fascinating to talk to on the phone.

The share market has fallen for a fourth straight day as a drop in commodity prices and a negative lead from US markets outweighed better-than-expected jobs figures.

The federal government has abandoned a plan to cut a Medicare rebate paid to GPs for short consultations.

Gina Rinehart's Roy Hill iron ore project has been issued two prohibition notices over safety concerns.

Oil and gas giant Woodside Petroleum is seeking to cut costs after lower oil prices pushed revenue down 10.1 per cent during the December quarter.

The chances of an imminent interest rate cut are diminishing after a surprise surge in full-time jobs pushed unemployment down to 6.1 per cent in December, with Western Australia being the only exception to the national fall.

Weak prices continue to hurt mineral sands miner Iluka Resources, which has revealed another fall in annual revenue.

ANZ Banking Group is tipping the Reserve Bank of Australia to cut its cash rate by 50 basis points to a new low of two per cent within the first six months of 2015.

The Australian sharemarket has started lower following a slide on Wall Street and a fall in commodity prices.

Wall Street stocks have dropped on a bruising day for global markets following a disappointing US retail sales report and a weak global economic forecast from the World Bank.

Disappointing US retail sales numbers have given the Australian dollar a lift above 81 US cents.

Gold prices have stuck to the highest level in two-and-a-half months, even as investors sell the metal to take profits on recent gains and cover bets in other markets.

US oil prices have shot up more than five per cent in a move attributed to bargain-hunting after the contract sank to a new multi-year low the prior day.

Shares closed lower for a third straight day as further falls in commodity prices sparked investor nerves.

Harvey Norman shares have gained as much as 9 per cent amid frenzied buying activity for the retail giant.

Troubled gold miner St Barbara has risked collapse but says its fortunes are improving after lifting production in the December quarter.

A gas valve at a fracking site in the Kimberley region was deliberately damaged, a preliminary investigation has found.

The Australian sharemarket has opened lower following a weak lead from the US and lower iron ore prices.

Wall Street stocks have closed modestly lower as worries about sliding crude oil prices overshadowed a strong unofficial start to earnings season by Alcoa.

The Australian dollar is treading water as investors await the release of highly-anticipated jobs figures on Thursday.

Gold prices have hit their highest level in two-and-a-half months, as investors grow concerned that a shaky global economy will stymie the Federal Reserve's plans to raise US interest rates later in 2015.

Oil prices have slipped towards nearly six-year lows after OPEC officials underscored the cartel's resolve to not cut output despite a supply glut and plunging prices.

Shareholders in Australia's largest oil and gas producer Woodside Petroleum are set to pocket smaller dividends this year if oil prices remain weak.

Falling oil prices have again weighed on the share market, although positive Chinese trade data helped to erase some of the damage.

Strong migration and a sluggish economy mean it's going to become harder for Australians to find jobs.

The poor, indigenous people and women will be the hardest hit by plans to cut the welfare payments of fine defaulters and send them to jail for longer.